Introduction to Ethics: Final Exam Review

Egoists v. Egotists

Egoists - people who think in terms of their own advantage, disregard the interest of others (apathetic)

Egotists - people who have very high self-opinion, self-praise (arrogant)

Four Questions Philosophers seek to answer:

Who are we?

Where did we come from?

Where are we going?

How should we live?

Socrates

studied humanity. One must examine themselves, unexamined lives are dangerous.

First one to make ethics an academic discipline

Plato

student of Socrates, wrote dialogues to show his teachings.

Focus on dualism - forms and shadows. Saw drama as dangerous.

Aristotle

Material world has much to offer.

Created the first classification list for biology.

Saw drama as a valuable teacher.

Consequentialism

the results determine the morality - Utilitarianism is a form of it

Deontology

the act is the point of the morality

Virtue

character - morality follows who you are - being

Which of the following believed people have the same basic values?

Rosenstand

What's the difference between ethics and morality?

Morality usually refers to the moral rules we follow, the values we have. Ethics is generally defined as theories about those rules; ethics questions and justifies the rules we live by, and if ethics can find no rational justification for those rules, it may ask us to abandon them.

What are possible origins of evil?

1. Evil is a force that exists outside human beings - as the devil, some satanic external power that tempts and preys on human souls

2. Evil is a force within the human mind - disregarding the needs and interests of other human beings just to accomplish a goal

3. Evil is a lack of something in the human mind - a blind spot where the rest of us have a sense of community, belonging, empathy for others.

Immanuel Kant's view on evil.

There is no doubt what evil is: the self-serving choice that individuals make freely, even when they know full well the moral law they ought to be following.

What is the common denominator found across all cultures?

A connection between the social life of the culture, its mores, and its religion.

Martha Nussbaum & Emotions in Context:

There is much cognitive value in emotions, which are quite reasonable when looked at in context. Feelings such as disappointment, elation, grief, and even love are all responses to certain situations. They develop according to some inner logic; they do not strike at random. Realization that our feelings are not justified we begin to retract those feelings, i.e. when our jealousy or anger are proven to be misguided/wrong.

If your irrational emotions fade away upon realization, then you experience rational emotion with moral relevance.

All cultures tell stories, and all cultures have ________________________.

codes for proper behavior

What is the fundamental premise of the book?

stories provide medium for teaching moral values

Bibliotherapy

psychologists prescribe this as means for parents to communicate with children on sensitive issues

Two purposes for Myths:

1. strengthen social bonding

2. fortify the individual

Parable

an allegory for adults

Difference between Aristotle and Plato on the value of stories**

Plato saw drama as having dangerous and disruptive consequences to our emotional and moral well being. According to him, drama invokes irrational ideas and emotions in the viewer which will veer them off the path of reality. His advice is to stay far away from drama.

Aristotle believed the polar opposite of Plato and related the beneficial context that can be taken away from drama. Drama to him was a mediator and ideal source of reflection for one's life. The takeaways from viewing drama were essential to widening our worldview and gaining knowledge from experiences we cannot experience on our own.

What is meant by "Custom is King?"

This phrase suggests that we are all comfortable doing what we are used to, we value tradition over change.

Name the four methods of dealing with moral differences from text.***

1. Moral Nihilism, skepticism, and subjectivism

2. Ethical relativism

3. Soft universalism

4. Hard universalism

Psychological egoism is the theory that declares ____________.

People naturally seek their own interest. (absolute & descriptive)

"Ought implies can"***

We cannot have an obligation (ought) to do something, unless it is actually possible that we can do it (can).

What best describes Ethical Egoism?

normative theory that humans should should seek own interest

Which of the following believed in dualism?

Plato

Martha Nussbaum states that ___________

emotions are reasonable

When something is universal and unchanging it is _________

absolute

_____________ explores the origin of someone's knowledge base.

Epistemology

The ethical system Nina Rosenstand provides six reasons for why it will not work is ______________

Ethical Relativism

Which of the following claims that we can solve conflicts by seeking common ground?

soft universalism

Which best describes Ethical Egoism?

normative theory that humans should seek own interest

____________ is an ideal that says we should look out for others.

Altruism

Theories that declare how people ought to behave are __________.

normative

Theory that describes observed human behavior ____

psychological egoism

Someone who only seeks their self interest is an ______________.

egoist

_____________ is based on character and/or character traits.

virtue

J. S. Mill's On Liberty speaks about interference in the lives of others - called the ______________

harm principle

"If we listen to our own reason and have goodwill we are autonomous lawmakers" ---

Immanuel Kant

Name the inventor of Hedonistic Calculator.

Jeremy Bentham

Which best describes Utilitarianism?

greatest happiness principle

Deontological theorists believe ---- ?

people cannot be a means to the end

Which theory would allow the use of living people in experiments to cure cancer?

Utilitarianism

Discuss the difference between intrinsic and instrumental value.***

Intrinsic values are the ultimate goal of pleasure and happiness that an individual works towards. To achieve these goals we use instrumental values as tools and step ladders to get closer to our intrinsic values.

Explain the intent of the Harm Principle***

The Harm Principle establishes that power cannot be exerted on an individual against their will unless their actions will cause harm to others. In other words to each his own, even if it is bad for them, so long as others are not hurt.

Explain what is meant by autonomous lawmakers in Deontology.***

When we each act upon our own reason, established maxims, and inherent good will, we practice the idea of being autonomous lawmakers. These individuals seek to move from their biases, and have right intentions.

Being a person implies one ---?

has the qualities of a moral agent.

The ethical system that claims you cannot use the person as a means to an end is ---?

Deontology

When one states what a person 'ought to be and to do,' what concept are they defining?

Normative

Choose the best description of 'natural rights' ---

rights all humans are born with.

Which of the following is an example of therapeutic cloning?

placing stem cells in one's liver

Which best describes distributive justice?

setting minimum wage for employees

Which of the following ideas argues that swift and strict punishment will slow crime in general?

Deterrence

Which philosopher taught dualism?

Plato

Which of the following represents the elements of Plato's tripartite soul?

Reason, willpower, appetites.

What was the view of Socrates on opinions?

He despised opinions.

Which of the following represent three views of reality?

Materialism, idealism, dualism

Aristotle discussed four causes, which of the following represents the 'purpose'?

Final cause

Aristotle taught that the purpose of the human being is to ---?

reason through everything

Who developed the idea of natural law with four obligations?

Aquinas

_____ is a term used to state that one is born with their character.

innate

_________ was a term Socrates used to describe the role of a teacher.

Midwife

Term Rawls used for his experiment in distributive justice __________________.

original position

Form of punishment that takes the criminal off the street ________________________.

incapacitation

Concept of reality that recognizes only the physical world __________.

materialism.

_______________ _____________ could be rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

negative rights

Explain negative and positive rights.****

Negative rights are synonymous with "natural rights," and are those rights that no person or institution can take away or impede another person. They include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Positive rights are rights given to a person by an institution such as government to help sustain life. They could include welfare, housing assistance, and food stamps.

List and explain the elements of the tripartite soul.

1. Reason - the guiding/moral compass

2. Desire - the appetites and unhealthy immoral wants of the soul, veer off the path of moral righteousness

3. Willpower - the fuel for the soul, strength to move forward works with reason to control desire

Name the four obligations that Aquinas associates with Natural Law.

1. We are obligated to preserve our lives.

2. We are obligated to live as good citizens among others

3. We are obliged to procreate within marriage

4. We are obliged to seek knowledge, especially from God.

Explain what Aristotle meant by the Golden Mean and give an example.

Aristotle's Golden Mean sought to find an average or "sweet spot" balance between two vices. The resulting action or emotion would balance the negative of a vice of excess and a vice deficit. For example, when presented with a desire situation of someone drowning one could be too rash or too cowardly, using the golden mean, a reasonable individual will think before acting and choose to be courageous.

Three Stages of Life***

1. aesthetic

2. ethical

3. religious

Sartre***

No god, no master plan, no objective values

Just War - four principles******

1. Last resort

2. Right intention

3. Probability of success

4. Just cause